7 New Roads to be built in Dunukofia -Obiano

By Kingsley Ezekwelu

As Gov Willie Obiano continues the inauguration of his reelection campaign chapters in the 21LGAs in Anambra state, he this afternoon stormed the Dunukofia LGA with an entourage of powerful party stalwarts and government functionaries.
The governor during the campaign rally mulled that his administration will embark on the construction of seven(7)major inner link roads to connect and open up communities in Dunukofia Council Area.

He revealed this at St Mary's Secondary school field, Ifitedunu during the inauguration of his reelection campaigns in the Area.

Present at the inauguration were major political stakeholders in Dunukofia, members of the State Assembly, APGA faithful from the wards in the Council area as well as friends and supporters of the Obiano administration and his reelection project.

Gov Obiano also said that his administration is installing streetlights across various communities of the Council Area, and these communities have all benefitted from the choose-your-project initiative of his administration.

He appealed to the people to support his administration in its second term bid, promising they will not regret supporting him.

The member representing Dunukofia, Njikoka and Anaocha Federal constituency in the National Assembly, Dr Dozie Nwankwo reminded the people that for their wish to reelect the governor to materialize, they must vote and protect their votes.

The National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Oye and the Chairman of the governor's re-election campaign committee, Chief Victor Umeh noted that it is only through APGA that Ndigbo can gain relevance in the country and there is the need to unite the people under one platform to continue the struggle until the emancipation of Ndigbo is realized.

The member representing Dunukofia constituency in the State Assembly, Mr Lawrence Ezeudu expressed appreciation to Gov Obiano for all he has done for people of the Area especially on security, education, agriculture, health and social responsiveness.

Earlier in his welcome address, the transition committee chairman of the Council Area, Mr Uche Umerie said by his disposition towards Ndi Dunukofia, Gov Obiano has shown that he loves them, hence will reciprocate with their votes.

2: Anambra 2017: Okada, Keke operators hold solidarity rally for Obiano

By Kingsley Ezekwelu

Today,testimonies of unprecedented achievements of Gov Willie Obiano has been appreciated by the indigenes and residents of Anambra state, as Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in the state have queued among well meaning groups that had come open to declare support to the governor's second term in office.

The support/ endorsement rally which held at the District Officers Park, Amawbia saw the Okada and keke riders speak with one voice in support of the Governor because of his administration's friendly disposition towards them, that has greatly aided their operations.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees, Motorcycle Transport Association of Nigeria, Chief Jimmy Okonkwo explained that the endorsement was their way of appreciating Gov Obiano for all he has done to make their businesses safe and secure and for considering them among those that benefitted from his economic stimulus package.

The Chairman, Eke Awka market, Mr Emeka Agunmadu said there is no well meaning onye Anambra that will not support the ongoing transformation that the State is witnessing under the visionary leadership of Gov Obiano.

According to the Chairman of all Transition Committee chairmen in the state, Chief Uchenna Okafor, the first function of government is to create the enabling environment for people to pursue their dreams and aspirations and Gov Obiano's administration has lived up to expectations in that regard.

The National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Oye recalled how Governor Obiano had slashed the levies initially charged the Okada and keke operators to enable them cope with the challenges of the nationwide recession, noting that only APGA regime can do such things for the people. Gov Obiano thanked the transporters for the endorsement and urged them to take the message down to their localities and ensure that all their members speak with one voice.

He also urged them to be observant to ensure that criminals do not hide under their platform and perpetrate all manner of crimes, assuring them that as long as they remain law abiding, his government will not entertain any call for their proscription but will continue to support them in their operations. Representatives of the various tribes under the association also in their separate remarks gave their word that they will work to deliver the governor.

3: Handover Note

By Ifeanyi Afuba

Suddenly, the hoax of N75 billion cash and investments handover in Anambra State in March 2014 is being resurrected. And the disinformation is being trumpeted with greater frenzy this time around. The reason behind this intrigue should be obvious to everyone. This election time is considered most auspicious to deliver the upper cut on the jaw of the Willie Obiano administration. And this assault fits into the well publicised undertaking to abort the reelection bid of Governor Willie Obiano even at cost of grave personal injury.

If we are to believe the outlandish tale that the Peter Obi regime mobilised resources to the tune of N75 b for the use of the successor government, it would follow that the period of its active service witnessed greater liquidity. If this were to be the case, how come that the same genorous administration left Awka the state capital barren, impoverished and in tatters? How could a State Government have so much money and at the same time be unable to provide the citizens with potable water?

Does it sound plausible that a regime that took pride in paying workers in the public sector – political appointees and career staff alike - minimal wages would elect to handover significant monetary assets? If the administration was financially resourceful as put out, it is legitimate to wonder as former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Chukwuma Soludo observed, that Obi was unable to leave any landmark project – except perhaps for Amaku Teaching Hospital - in all of his eight year reign.

It turned out there was no N75 billion cash - assets legacy. The inherited cash balance of the state in March 2014 was N9b while actual investments by the previous administration stood at N35.5b. Since this fact was publicly stated by the Obiano regime in November 2015, there has been resort to wild allegations intended to incite the people against the Government.

There are some specific issues in the handover notes that are irreconcilable to the doctrine of investment the outgone regime claimed to have made for the state. The status of these items in terms of their categories, definition and value are as clear as broad daylight that they do not require any further interpretation for comprehension.

By largely ignoring the self – evident parameters that contradict the N75b figure in their reactions, the Obi camp betrayed the porosity of its defence. What clarification is demonstrated in the divide in which it is stated clearly in the handover note that the state’s bank balances as at December 31 2013 stood at N11.5b only to declare at the unveiling of the documents’ deficits that N37 b was left in the treasury? No meaningful purpose is served brandishing supposedly bank statements on television when the declared balance and confirmed deposit say otherwise. Is the Peter Obi constituency owning up to the unreliability of the handover figures?

This is true of the actual cash situation as it is of some other items because it is established that in the period from January to March 17, 2014, the stated N11.5b was drawn down to approximately N9b, the very sum inherited by the Obiano administration.

The sum of N3.5b quoted in the handover papers as investment in Intafact Beverages Limited, manufacturers of the Hero brand, is simply false. To date, Anambra State has invested N1.9b in the company, broken down to N1.4 by the Obi administration and N540m by the Obiano government. The status cum value of stock instruments is easily verifiable from the Registrar of Securities. No one needs a committee of accountants to confirm the standing of the investment.

There should also be no controversy about the ineligibility of including the Nigeria Independent Power Project valued at N9b in a document intended to list investments undertaken by the Peter Obi regime. The above named investment was initiated and executed by the federal government as a national venture involving the central government and the 36 states.

The argument of the Peter Obi camp that the principle of handover admits voluntary and involuntary investments self defeats as the list is not exhaustive of the state’s equity holdings. Anambra State has stakes in Nigercem Company, Nkalagu and estates in Enugu, Lagos and Abuja. Why were these not included in the handover list in the standard of all receivables? A proper handover note should have distinguished between other investments, carry – over investments and the investments initiated by the Obi regime. The underlining terms are the Obi administration’s investment handover notes. Anything to the contrary would be misleading as in the present case.

It amounts to playing on the intelligence of Ndi Anambra to say that the previous administration ploughed N1b into the Onitsha Shopping Mall when no such payment was made. What is being presented as investment of Anambra State’s funds is no more than the conversion of the state’s land to 15% equity stake. For the avoidance of doubt, Africa Capital Alliance is the financial investor of the venture.

In the peculiar world of Obi’s investment bonanza, loans advanced to farmers and small scale entrepreneurs by federal institutions such as Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry qualify to be declared as investment by his regime. The disbursements for these private schemes are approximately N2.4b. Is the state government entitled to a share of the profits therein? You wonder, we wonder. The entries on Emenite Limited and Orient Petroleum Resources Limited are also misrepresentations of the facts on ground.
The alarm on this disingenuous handover note was sounded very early at the beginning of Obiano’s tenure.

Two advertorials, ‘Mr PETER OBII’s N75B LEGACY: FACT OR FICTION [The Nation, Tuesday, April 1, 2014] and ‘THE DUBIOUS DEMAND FOR REFUND OF N7B ELECTION EXPENSES [The Nation, Friday, April 11, 2014], were quite revealing. If it had taken the Obiano regime eighteen months to engage publicly on the subject, it means this is not a precipitate action or witch hunt. But for a last minute change of plan, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole was all set after seven years in office to initiate a probe of Lucky Igbinedion’s regime.

If there was still any doubt that this controversial handover note was largely self – serving, it is erased by the conspicuous omission of the liabilities being bequeathed to the incoming government. Whoever heard of a transition document featuring assets only! Why did the previous regime hide the fact that it was transferring a N106 b debt to the Obiano administration from the public? Saddled with such choking debt unknown to the public, who would be the beneficiary of the inevitable comparison that would portray the new regime as profligate and underperforming?

Navigating these landmines to make Anambra the fourth largest economy and one of the most secure States in the country today is stupendous! It is a feat no amount of vicious propaganda can rewrite. It is a bright new morning saying to desperate godfatherism, Obiano’s good first tenure deserves another.

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